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2023-08-27T19:52:42Z

Fifth Alliance Grand Survey

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The '''Alliance Grand Surveys''' (also known as '''Grand Surveys''') were star system surveys conducted by the [[Terran Alliance]] in the late [[twenty-second century|twenty-second]] and early [[twenty-third century|twenty-third centuries]].

==History==

In the midst of the [[First Exodus]] in the 2140s, many systems farther than one hyperjump away from [[Earth]] were beginning to be colonized. In the tradition of the star system survey conducted by the [[TAS Pathfinder|TAS ''Pathfinder'']] (in the opening years of the twenty-second century), the Alliance Grand Surveys were missions conducted to record the extent of colonization. These missions catalogued a remarkable rate of expansion. More than 100 colonies had been founded within 40 light-years of [[Terra]] by the time of the first Grand Survey. This is quite remarkable considering TAS ''Pathfinder'' had only conducted the first manned faster-than-light test only 64 years earlier (in [[2108]]), and [[New Earth]] had only been settled in [[2116]]).

Some colonists speculated that the surveys were a thinly-veiled attempt to show Alliance authority and were not interested in population numbers at all. As if to back up that speculation, basic statistics were published but the actual population numbers were never revealed to the public.

It is extremely likely that these missions were under the control of the [[Terran Space Navy]] but that remains unconfirmed.

The tremendous rate of colonization led the Terran Alliance to look inward, questioning whether to spend its resources on colonizing (and governing) the stars or to stamp out poverty and hunger on the homeworld.<ref name=HD8>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', pp. 7-8</ref>

==Survey Results==

[[Image:Terran_alliance_2235.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Terran Alliance Territory in 2235''']]

==='''First Alliance Grand Survey'''===

The First Grand Survey started in [[2168]]<ref name="HB:HM12-17">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 12, 17</ref> and ended in [[2172]]<ref name=SL8>''The Star League'', p. 8</ref><ref name=HD8/><ref name=HB:HM12-17/><ref name=HK15>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 15</ref><ref name="H:RWp13">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 13, "A Continuation Of Politics"</ref><ref name=HBHM-17/>. It cataloged an estimated 112<ref name="H:RWp13"/> colonized worlds spread over an eighty light-year diameter (40 light-year radius).<ref name=HD8/><ref name=HK15/><ref name="H:RWp13"/><ref name="MWBRPGp4">''MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game'', p. 4 "EXODUS (2102 - 2313)"</ref>

==='''Second Alliance Grand Survey'''===
The Second Grand Survey of [[2199]]<ref name="H:RWp13"/> cataloged 395 colonized worlds spread over a ninety light-year radius.<ref name="H:RWp13"/>

==='''Third Alliance Grand Survey'''===
The Third Grand Survey of [[2216]] cataloged 461 colonized worlds in a one hundred light-year radius.<ref name="H:RWp13"/>

==='''Fourth Alliance Grand Survey'''===
The Fourth Grand Survey of [[2235]] cataloged 619 colonized worlds in a one hundred and twenty light-year radius.<ref name="H:RWp13"/><ref name=SL8/><ref name=HBHM-17/><ref name="MWBRPGp4"/>

==='''Fifth Alliance Grand Survey'''===
The Fifth Grand Survey took place in [[2389]] and charted regions also of the periphery.<ref name=HRWp>''Historical: Reunification War'' p.21</ref>

==='''TAS ''Pathfinder'' Survey (Comparison)'''===
The TAS ''Pathfinder'' surveyed thirty-five star systems with fifty inhabitable worlds over a forty-light year radius.

==Notes==

* Alternative Dates and number of colonies found for the Grand Surveys are:<br>
:* First Grand Survey: [[2174]], 108 colonies{{cn}}
:* Second Grand Survey: [[2195]], 200+ colonies<ref name=HBHM-17>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 17, "Timeline: Ancient History"</ref>
:* Third Grand Survey: ends in [[2219]], 300+ colonies<ref name=HBHM-17/>
:* Fourth Grand Survey: sometime between [[2218]] and [[2222]]<ref name=HBHM-12>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 12, "To the Stars"</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[DropShips and JumpShips|DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary]]''
*''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
*''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
*''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
*''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
*''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game]]''
*''[[The Star League]]''

[[Category:Science and Technology Events]]

Alliance Grand Survey - Revision history

imported>Pserratv: /* Fifth Alliance Grand Survey */